After putting my pants back on, I leave the room and go in search of my wayward houseguest. It doesn’t take me long to find her. She’s holding a jar of peanut butter. She removes the top and throws a fist bump in the air. She takes off the paper seal and grabs a spoon. She looks at the spoon, thinks better of it, and tosses it on the floor. She then sticks her finger in the peanut butter and sucks it off.
My dick gets hard at the sight and sounds coming out of her mouth.
“Would you like some bread?” Cori coughs at the sound of my voice. “I’m hurt, Bella. I spent a lot of time on that meal I cooked for us. Now you’re in here eating peanut butter.”
I whistle for Finch, who was sitting in the corner. I grab her leash and open the door. Cori freezes when she sees the outside, and I can only imagine she thinks her escape is only a few feet away. I make sure to leave the door open when I take Finch out.
It takes her less than five seconds to come out. It’s a large yard with an in-ground pool, tennis court, and garden. I throw the ball at Finch, and she runs around in the yard.
From the corner of my eye, she closes the door and eats more peanut butter. Then she tosses the jar in the pool and runs off. I shake my head at her. She has no shoes, and she can’t leave the property unless I let her out. My place is more secure than Fort Knox. Unwilling to let her cut her beautiful feet, I run to her and lift her bridal style. She fights and punches me, but I bring her inside and sit her down on the counter by the sink. I grab a wet paper towel and clean her feet.
“By the way.” She does her best to sound casual. “I’m not on birth control, and I’m going to milk you for all the child support I can get.” My head snaps up at that comment. “The lawyer Iwork for got his last client child support even though the father had full custody. That’s what I’m going to do with you.”
I put my hand on her stomach and grin at her. She slaps my hand, and I snort before putting it down.
“A baby? Threaten me with a good time.” She throws a punch at my face, but I wrap my hand around her wrist and bring her arm down. “I love babies.” She shoves me, but I don’t move. I leave her on the counter and go in search of Finch. After she does her business, and I clean it up, I bring her back inside and fill her food and water dish.
Cori is gone by the time I return, and I go upstairs in search of her. Before I do, I stop by my office and grab the bag I had stashed away.
I find her in one of the guest bedrooms. This is the one my mother uses when she stays over. I hand her the bag, and her eyes go wide when she sees it. She snatches it from me and dumps the contents on the bed.
Everything in there is hers. “I packed that myself for you this morning,” I announce. She pulls out pajamas, clothes, underwear, and socks. She even grabs the packet of birth control pills she keeps in her bathroom. “I think we’re safe when it comes to the baby. At least for now.”
I reach for her belly again, but she jerks away.
“Don’t you fucking touch me.”
“I’ve already touched you, Bella. In every way that counts.”
“How did you get this?” She stands and points a finger in my face.
“How do you think?”
“You broke into my apartment?” Her eyes are wide, and she puts her hands on her hips.
“Bella, if you could, you would have broken into my house to spy. You’re just mad because I’m better at this than you.”
Her head rolls back. “Better at this than me? I’m a professional.”
“I assume you’re talking about your little job as a private investigator. Baby, I clocked you immediately. I’ve been leading you the entire time. You were only able to follow me because I allowed it.”
“Don’t call me baby. It’s condescending.”
“I won’t, baby.”
“How did you get inside my apartment? And how dare you touch this bag? My mother got it for me last Christmas. I haven’t even used it yet, and you put your hands on it.” She gently picks up the bag and puts it on the bed. Then she charges at me and rains punches on my chest. “And you went through my things? Don’t you ever.” She points at my face but doesn’t finish her thought. “I want to get the hell out of here now. You’ve gone too far, you pervert. I wish I had stabbed you with that jagged mirror and killed you.”
Then she gives me her back, plants both hands on the dresser, and cries. Unlike a few hours ago, these tears are real. Unsure of what to do, I slowly walk behind her and put my hands on her shoulders. She shrugs and walks to the other side of the room.
She wraps her arms around herself. She looks a mess. Her shirt is wrinkled and covered with peanut butter. Her jeans are zipped but unbuttoned. I take a step forward, and she puts her hand up to ward me off. “No,” she says.
I eye the bag, but I can’t come up with any reasons why it would be a trigger. It’s a large floral duffel bag with Corine’s Creations stitched in pink letters. Something about this girl tells me she’s not the pink or floral type, but the bag is important to her.
I don’t regret getting inside her apartment to get it, but she’s wrong. I didn’t break in. Not in the way she thinks.
Weeks ago
“Keep her there,” I order Sam Armstrong, Cori Lamb’s employer. I end the call before he can utter a word. I don’t give a shit what he has to say. He takes orders from me, not the other way around. The moron has yet to realize that his private investigator is investigating his biggest client. On his time and dime. Idiot.
